GHSA Highway Safety Awards

2013 Award Winners

The 2013 GHSA Highway Safety Awards were presented on Tuesday, Aug. 27, in conjunction with the 2013 GHSA Annual Meeting in San Diego.

The 2013 James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award Winner

Dr. James Hedlund—Follow the data, follow the science. That aptly describes Dr. James
“Jim” Hedlund’s highway safety philosophy, which he has honed over
the past 37 years. A mathematician by training, Jim is skilled at taking
complex, sometimes abstract problems and boiling them down into
understandable parts. Learn More

The 2013 Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award Winner

Terry Pence—Trust, integrity, excellence, and service are just a few of the words used
to describe Terry Pence, Traffic Safety Section Director for the Texas
Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Traffic Operations Division. His
dedication to saving lives and preventing injuries on the roadways across
Texas and nationwide spans more than thirty years. Learn More

The 2013 Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award Winners

Florida DOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Focused Initiative—In 2010, Florida’s pedestrian fatality rate was the highest in the nation, at
2.58 deaths per 100,000 population. Pedestrian deaths accounted for 22
percent of all traffic fatalities in the state, claiming 499 lives. Recognizing
the need to improve safety for these vulnerable roadway users, the Florida
Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Bicycle/Pedestrian Focused
Initiative commenced in late 2011. Learn More

Kentucky Drive Down Team—A collaborative effort between East Kentucky Broadcasting and the Pike
County Highway Safety Team, Drive Down is an educational initiative
credited with sparking a 19.8 percent reduction in traffic crashes in the
state’s “most dangerous” county. Pike – a rural, mountainous county – has
consistently ranked among the state’s top three for property damage,
serious injury and fatal crashes, as well as low seat belt and child safety
seat use. Learn More

Remembering Ally: Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign—On December 28, 2010, Michigan high school student, Ally Zimmerman, was
seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash caused by a distracted driver. She
died of her injuries early the following year at the age of 16. Her death
prompted the Traffic Improvement Association (TIA) of Michigan,
in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation
and the teen’s family, to launch Remembering Ally, a campaign
dedicated to educating teens and adults about the dangers
of distracted driving. Learn More

Oregon DOT, Traffic Safety Division E-Crash/E-Citation Program—Oregon has one of the lowest police to population ratios in the Western United States. To address this
disparity, law enforcement agencies know they must work smarter to address the many safety issues
impacting the communities they serve. In that spirit, local police agencies in Oregon began using electronic ticketing as early as 2004
to more efficiently issue motor vehicle citations. Learn More

Utah "Don't Drive Stupid" Parent Night Program—Recognizing the critical role parents play in helping their teens survive
their most dangerous driving years, Utah’s Zero Fatalities program
incorporated Parent Nights into its “Don’t Drive Stupid” teen safe driving
program. First implemented as a pilot in two high schools in 2011, “Don’t
Drive Stupid” Parent Nights bring together driver education students and
their parents for an impactful presentation focused on the state’s five
most deadly driving behaviors. Learn More